In the NRMP match (national residency matching program), residency
program directors will submit their quotas by Jan31, 2006.  Is the
quota allowed to be flexible?  In other words, if a program usually
has a quota of 14, but people in other classes of the residency drop
out, can that program set their quota to 17 for one year?  In other
words, is the quota a reflection of the entire residency program or
just of the class? see http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html

Hello, doctorchou2-ga!

I must admit that this question did catch my eye because my husband is
currently a 3rd-year Family Medicine resident and it wasn?t long ago
that we went through the (very unnerving) Match process. As part of
the research for this question I asked my husband?s residency
coordinator about quotas specifically.

Quotas for incoming residents are determined by each program according
to individual criteria. They determine how many new residents they can
accommodate and set their quotas. It may reflect the total number of
residents in the program, but this is not usually the case. As an
example, suppose a program normally has 6 first-year slots through the
Match, and 2 second-year residents transfer or drop out, there are at
least two options to replace them. First, they can accept second-year
residents from other programs as transfers. Or second, they could
choose to accept 2 additional first-year residents (though this is
less desirable, as it would place more burden on the senior
residents). Quotas are flexible from year to year depending on
individual program needs and available funding. The best way to
understand each program?s quota is to contact them each individually.
As you?ve noticed, quotas are required to be set by January 31, 2006.
After this point programs are unable to change their quotas, although
rank order lists are not due until February 22, 2006.

To see the complete agreement between individual programs and the NRMP:
http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/policies/map_institution.html

There is a specific section on quotas at:
http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/policies/map_institution.html#comm_quota

I wish you lots of luck if you are in any way taking part in the
match. We personally know how unnerving and stressful it can be and I
really do wish you a good match process (at the very least, I hope
that this information is helpful to you). I do hope that you find this
information helpful and useful. Should you need further clarification,
please let me know how I can help.

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga

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Search Strategy:

Contact with local Residency Coordinator
Specific search of NRMP website (www.nrmp.org)

thanks!

Hello doctorchou-ga,

Thank you for taking the time to rate my answer.

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga